Feinstein’s assault weapons ban won’t be in Dem’s gun bill

March 19, 2013

By Katy Grimes

Liberty loving gun rights advocates pushed politicians so hard, the assault weapons ban has been dropped from the gun control legislation in the nation’s Capitol.

Either that or U.S. Senator Harry Reid is running for reelection. Reid announced today his decision to shelve Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s proposed assault weapons ban, as the gun control legislation moves forward in the Senate.

“Reid, D-Nev., said he wanted to bring a gun bill to the full Senate that would have enough support to overcome any GOP attempts to prevent debate from even starting,” the Associated Press reported. “He said that ‘using the most optimistic numbers,’ there were less than 40 votes for Feinstein’s ban.”

In a move which is clearly political, Reid recognized that he didn’t have the numbers to pass the assault weapons ban. He probably also heard plenty from the gun lovers in his home state of Nevada.

In the first political move, immediately following the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December, Feinstein introduced the new assault weapons ban legislation. The first assault weapons ban was passed in 1994 under President Bill Clinton, but it was allowed to expire in 2004.

Feinstein’s proposed assault weapons ban included banning ammunition magazines that carry more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Feinstein called these “high-capacity magazine clips.”

“I very much regret it,” Feinstein, D-Calif., told reporters of Reid’s decision. “I tried my best.”

While gun control is not off the table by any measure, this is a solid win for individual liberty. It’s just such a shame Feinstein isn’t listening.